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| The HSUS/R. Covey |
| Some of the many neglected horses. |
By Kathy Covey
On a stormy day in northeast Texas, members of The HSUS Strike Team helped give 75 severely neglected pregnant mares, yearlings and stallions a new lease on life.
Wet and muddy conditions did not damper the spirits of the responders when, on June 26, they herded and loaded the horses in to awaiting trailers. Yearlings were rounded up first, before clouds unleashed their wet fury on the ranch.
One severely malnourished and injured yearling was transported immediately to the care of a veterinarian.
The 40-acre horse ranch in Cash, Texas—approximately 50 miles northeast of Dallas—had pastures devoid of grass, with little or no edible grazing for many of the horses, primarily the mares and yearlings.
The skittish mares were loaded in the mid-afternoon as the rains abated. The HSUS team working in the muddy pastures noted the majority of the mares were pregnant, including the older mares. Many were so malnourished that their back, ribs and hip bones were pronounced beneath their skin.
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| The HSUS/R. Covey |
| HSUS' Jeff Eyre coaxing a mare into the trailer. |
"We were working with the horses one at a time to take evidentiary photos. When we put the halters on them they seemed to know we were there to help. One thin horse in particular nuzzled me gently as I held her for the camera and seemed to say 'thanks'," said Randy Covey, director of Disaster Services for The HSUS and one of the strike team members on scene.
In one day, all the horses were removed and taken to an secure, undisclosed location where a veterinarian will examine and treat each horse as needed. The chance of survival for the unborn foals will be improved as the mares receive immediate and desperately-needed nutrition.
Rescuers believe this was a high-volume horse breeding operation akin to a puppy mill.
"This case is a classic example of an individual breeding more horses than he could or was willing to feed and care for responsibly. When that happens, the animals inevitably suffer, as these have. We're happy to have been able to assist in relocating them to a place where they can soon be on the road to recovery," stated Lou Guyton, director of the Southwest Regional Office of The HSUS.
The seizure took place under the direction of the Hunt County Sheriff's office, which will cite the horses' owner with multiple counts of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is a Class A Misdemeanor in Texas and carries penalties of one year in the county jail and up to $4,000 for each count.
The Humane Society of the United States was among the groups asked to help with the seizure by Texas-based Habitat for Horses, who worked with the Sheriff's office to obtain the warrant.
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| The HSUS/R. Covey |
| Making sure she is comfortable. |
"This is one of the largest equine seizures Habitat for Horses has done, and I am very thankful for the assistance of The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society of North Texas and the East Texas Horse Rescue organization," said Jerry Finch with Habitat for Horses. "The trucks, trailers and expert handling skills provided by these organizations were invaluable. The success of this seizure in a large part was because of their efforts."
Habitat for Horses estimated it may take up to six months for the horses to be healthy enough for new adoptive homes. Depending on the outcome of the judge's ruling in this case, the horses could be given to the horse rescue for fostering and ultimate adoption within weeks.
